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Vern Dale Shipman 1934~2017

Submitted by News Staff on Tue, 08/22/2017 - 4:44pm

Vern Dale Shipman, 82, went home from this life Monday, July 31, at his home in Garland, Texas following a months-long illness. He is ' rejoicing in Heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He leaves behind his wife, Shirley (Boston) Shipman; his daughter, Diana Brake (Perry); his son, Dale Shipman; his daughter, Darlene Brooks (Thomas); his daughter Dora Allison (Donald); two step-children, Pam Andrews (Craig) and Jeff Gose (Stacy); his sister, Norma Pickett; 16 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and a large number of nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends who cared for him deeply. Born in Oklahoma City on November 9,1934, to Leonard and Dora Shipman, Vern spent most of his youth in Watonga, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Watonga High School in 1952. He first attended Oklahoma State University, then joined the Marines before returning to finish his degree in electrical engineering. After working for others for a time, he started his own company Headway Research, Inc. in 1963 and maintained that to the present day. While in the Marines and stationed in California, he met and married his first wife, JoAnn Lane, in 1956. They moved to Oklahoma and then Texas and completed their family with their four children, Diana, Dale, Darlene, and Dora. The first marriage was 16 years. Several years after, Vern married Shirley (Boston) Gose of Watonga, OK in 1990. They had 27 years together watching children flourish and welcoming grandchildren into the world. They have also greatly enjoyed their dogs (all Bichon Frises) Winston (deceased), Barnabas, and Louie. Throughout Vern's life, he had an incredibly strong faith in God and Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He felt very strongly about living a life of integrity, faith and outreach. In his later years, this took on a stronger presence and you could not know him without hearing about his faith. It carried him through to the end. He was such a caring and compassionate soul, and he is now in the arms of our most compassionate Creator, where he so wished everyone could end up.